The countdown is underway to the first-ever PieFest event, to be held from 13-14 August 2016 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

At this unique, inaugural celebration of pies, visitors will be able to sample pies, buy pies, eat pies and even learn how to make their own pies.

Many of the UK’s awarding-winning pie makers will be at the event selling their pies including past Supreme Champions of the British Pie Awards. They will be joined by other food and drink producers from across the East Midlands and beyond offering gin, real ales, preserves, handmade chocolate, cakes, ice cream, cider, cheeses, pickles, olives and port. Gluten free pies will also be available at PieFest 2016 including delicacies from Macclesfield-based specialist, The Gluten Free Pie Company.

Matthew O’Callaghan from the Melton Mowbray Food Partnership, organiser of PieFest 2016 said: “From being the home of the classic Melton Mowbray Pork Pie to hosting the annual British Pie Awards, Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire is regarded as the UK ‘Capital of Pies’ which makes it the ideal location for the first-ever UK PieFest in 2016.

“For this first-ever PieFest, we will have around 40 exhibitors, evenly split between award-winning piemakers and complementary local produce - everything for the pie lover and more!”

PieFest will also include talks, tastings, demonstrations and workshops on how to make the perfect pie. The Pie Theatre programme includes talks on A History of Pies, Raising a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and a Pie Clinic where visitors can put their pie and pastry woes and queries to an expert panel of cooks and pie makers.

PieFest will run from 10am to 4pm on the weekend of 13–14 August 2016 at Melton Mowbray Cattle Market, Leicestershire LE13 0HS. Admission is £4, children under 16 free. For more information, please visit www.ukpiefest.co.uk